Sometimes, this country saddens me.

i've been mulling over the incidents that happened in cairo over eid for weeks now--not knowing who to be angry at, and just incredibly sad that inequality and corruption like this can exist without even the slightest media attention. i realize that i'm being vague. over eid, the three day holiday that ends ramadan, there were a series of riots outside movie theaters and such that involved huge masses of men accosting, molesting, and tearing the clothes of any women they could find. women hid in taxis and nearby shops, hoping desperately for protection. the men did not discriminate between egyptians and foriegners, muslims and non-muslims. and the police did nothing. apparently, but this is only what i can gather from people at AUC and from other blogs, since the police refused to report the incidents of sexual assault, there is no record of it taking place. and the government has denied it even happened. no newspapers covered the story, and cameras were taken from the hands of people attempting to document the scene. today, guards are in full riot gear on the streets, expecting more rioting due to the protests scheduled to take place.

i am angry, and sad, and i feel powerless. i realized quite a while ago that the cat-calls and rude remarks on the street were anything but benign. the men who behave in this fashion are pigs. i realize now that even the calls of 'beautiful!' aren't good-natured--these calls imply 'thank you for pleasing me!'

i am tired of the staring and the whistles and the comments. i feel like walking up to some of the men and grabbing them by the shoulders and shaking them, saying, 'YOU CAN NOT TREAT PEOPLE LIKE THIS! THIS IS WHY THE WHOLE WORLD THINKS YOU ARE BACKWARDS!' but i would expect nothing back except blank stares.

until recently in egypt, there was a law that allowed rapists to avoid punishment if they married their victims.

and WHY is it up to the women to 'avoid' harrassment through veils and diverted eyes? why aren't the men held accountable for the absolutely disgraceful way they treat people's sisters, daughters, and mothers?

there is a saying in arabic 'if you leave a piece of raw meat uncovered, expect the flies to attack it.'

it's sick.

i haven't wanted to go home until today.